Bendigo’s Sikh community has organised the first ever Nagar Kirtan in Bendigo on Suday 20 October commencing from Ullambara Theatre, Park Road, and going to Rosalind Park. There will be activities for chilren and festive events. This parade is organised to celebrate the 550th Birth anniversary of Guru Nanak – The founder of Sikhism.
The Nagar Kirtan will start around midday from Park Rd in Bendigo, going through Gaol Rd, View St and ending with a festival in Rosalind Park. The parade is expected to arrive around 1pm in Rosalind Park for speeches, performances, free food and festivities.
The event is supported by State Government of Victoria, and the City of Greater Bendigo.
Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak (1469-1539) was one of the greatest religious innovators of all time and the founder of the Sikh religion.
Guru Nanak’s birthday is celebrated by Sikhs on April 14th by the Nanakshahi calendar. (The date according to the lunar calendar changes annually but is usually in November.)
Nanak’s religious ideas draw on both Hindu and Islamic thought, but are far more than just a synthesis. Nanak was an original spiritual thinker and expressed his thoughts in extraordinary poetry that forms the basis of Sikh scripture.
Little is known about the life of Nanak, but Sikh tradition has a much-loved set of stories or janam sakhis which relate various incidents from his life, and include many of his important teachings.
